Each of this author's books are unique and different in terms of genres, so as a result you don't really know what you are going to get until you start reading it. This book is no different, venturing away from pirates into a dystopian and futuristic world where there are a number of murders and mysteries. (Ok, so there are some similarities in Stuart Turton's books.)
As ever, the story is articulate and interesting from the first page, racing off into the distance at the earliest opportunity. Throughout the book the story stimulates you and encourages you to read more, for it to stumble slightly in the final quarter. No spoilers here, but there are a number of minor surprises and developments within the story, but nothing earth shattering or that surprising.
In fact the story is engaging and warm, embracing and enticing like a comfortable sweater but never stepping up in high gears with it's challenge and depth. Perhaps benefiting from a trim of a few pages, this is still a very entertaining story, jammed pack full of interesting and developing characters.
I'm very grateful to the publishers for allowing me early access and I can only hope for the author to receive the well deserved volume of acclaim and sales for this very enjoyable book.

Thank you to Bloomsbury for this ARC!

‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ ranks in one of my favourite books, maybe ever. I also enjoyed ‘The Devil and the Dark Water’, and so was thrilled to see Stuart Turton returning with a new book. Part cli-fi, part murder-mystery, ‘The Last Murder at the End of the World’ considers what would happen if the end of humanity was nigh, but no one could remember what had happened in order to solve it.

I enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this novel — the island was well laid-out and vividly described, and I enjoyed how different areas were crucial for different parts of the plot. I also thought that the unravelling of the mystery was done well, as I never guessed what had happened at any point.
Nevertheless, I did struggle a bit to connect with any of the characters, as I felt like I never really knew them, and a lot of them were (deliberately) quite unlikeable. This did mean that my interest in the solving of the murder somewhat waned, especially compared to Turton’s first two books. Unfortunately, the overall premise (the fog, et cetera) didn’t quite work for me.

Despite this, I believe that anyone who loves Turton, and/or murder mysteries, and/or cli-fi titles will have a good time with this one.

2.5/5

Thanks to Bloomsbury for a review copy.
A new Stuart Turton books is always an exciting prospect. His inventiveness and fiendish intricacy are mind boggling and yet totally satisfying. In those respects ‘The Last Murder at the End of the World’ delivers in spades.
Although we only ever meet the characters on the island, the last survivors of a cataclysmic biological weapon which wiped out civilisation, the writing evokes a sense of knowing and understating the world as it was before the devastation. The mystery is clever and typical of Mr Turton - everyone is a suspect and yet no one knows the truth.
However, having read and loved Mr Turton’s two previous novels, ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ and ‘The Devil and the Dark Water’ I have to admit I was less than overwhelmed with this latest story. In the interests of full disclosure, I confess I am not a fan of writing in the present tense. I find it a rather contrived and lazy way of storytelling though that, of course is my personal opinion. I was, therefore, disappointed when I found that ‘The Last Murder at the end of the World’ is written in that style without any real need for it. The story, told from the not entirely reliable perspective of Abi, a powerful AI, would have worked perfectly well had it been related in the past tense, especially as there is no hint anywhere in the book to identify to whom she is ‘speaking.’
Although the story was interesting and I wanted to know the end, I was not as addicted as I have been to his previous books as I found the interminable present tense presentation to be hard work.
I also considered the ending to be a little rushed. The main plot point, i.e. the identity of the murderer, was well signalled and the clues (and red herrings) were all nicely placed but the final dénouement about the fog seemed to be rather tacked on with nothing to hint at it in advance. Given that Abi is largely omnipotent and omnipresent for all the characters and therefore clearly knows the truth, it seems strange that there was nothing in the story which gave a clue as to what was to come.
So maybe I was expecting too much, but this is my least favourite of Mr Turton’s books so far. I hope that he will return to the Evelyn Hardcastle ‘universe’ at some point as there must be so many more tales to tell there - but in the past tense - please.

What an incredible book! It’s very well written by an author who managed to create here a story that is as multi-layered as an very expensive wedding cake. Alas, no weddings on the island though.
We find ourselves in the middle of a group of happily living Villagers, who are led by three Elders. The Villagers love the elders, they almost worship them, were it not for the fact that there is no religion anymore since the world was swallowed by the black fog and the insects. The Villagers are a happy group, satisfied with a live of service to the Elders and the whole community. They never ask themselves why they are on the island; after all, they do know that they are living in old military barracks, and that beneath their feet is Blackheath, a giant research centre that is now sealed off after the fog threatened to swallow it an all scientists in it. Only three of them managed to escape and they took the role of Elders.

The Villagers work all day in the fields and every evening they all share an evening meal. There is lots of laughter and happiness; there is a little school for the younger children and Thea, one of the Elders, takes new apprentices every year to teach them science and help by maintaining the salvaged machinery.

Strange? No, this is only the start of all that is about to be revealed. One morning after a joyous evening full of music and laughter, Niema is found dead. And since Abi, the AI that speaks with all Villagers through their mind wiped their memory, who will be able to solve the crime? They don’t even know what a crime is – that’s all left behind. They never argue, they never fight. But now, as Emory is trying to solve the murder before the fog reaches the island, she and the other Villagers have to learn certain things about how humans lived before the disaster. Things they won’t like…
What is not to like? It’s Science Fiction, it’s Dystopian, it has an old fashioned crime in it and there are very interesting characters, lots of secrets and even more surprises. I just loved the way we readers have to really think about all that is happening and personally, I never did see the end coming. There is a lot to learn in this book about the human psyche and what makes us ticking and what not. I wish I could find more words to describe how good this book is.

Most of the secrets are revealed during the building up of the plot, which is very good because there are secrets behind secrets and with each layer of the story more secrets and surprises are revealed. This way we get to know the characters better with each page and the reader is drawn into the story even further.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for this review copy.

The most captivating murder mystery with a twist! Stuart Turton manages to weave intricate, elaborate stories that will have you mystified and dying to know more! Loved it!

Regular readers will know how much I bloody love Stuart Turton’s books. First we had the intricately plotted, fabulously mind-twistingly clever and utterly brilliant The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Then we found ourselves in 1634 on the the good ship Saardam with the world’s greatest detective (albeit locked up below decks) and a growing pile of bodies in The Devil and the Dark Water.

And now, Stuart Turton, master of the impossible murder (in book form, thank goodness), is back again with his third book, The Last Murder at the End of the World.

Ninety two hours until humanity’s extinction. Though most of humanity is already gone, wiped out by a mysterious fog and leaving us fully in a dystopian future where a mere 122 villagers survive on a small Greek island along with three scientists. Oh, but the island is surrounded by the same strange fog that killed everyone else. Yikes.

Then one of the scientists is killed, and the defences holding the fog at bay break down. Double yikes. The book starts with ninety two hours to solve an impossible murder and save the world.

Pfft. Easy.

Turton has taken the locked room mystery and turned it into a locked island – there’s no way on or off (and nowhere to go other than that deadly fog if you did escape). And there’s Abi, the voice inside the villagers’ heads which tells them what to do and how to behave. And a strange curfew each evening where everyone falls asleep at the same time, no matter where they are or what they’re doing. And the curfew wiped everyone’s memory from the night of the murder, so whilst everyone is technically a suspect, no-one really has the knowledge or ability to do kill anyone. They’re not even really sure what murder is, and even the murder wouldn’t remember doing it.

Look, it’s hard to talk too much about this without spoiling things. It’s brilliant, it’s twisty, it plays with your perceptions and makes you question what it is to be human. It’s a shorter book than the first two, but packs so much into it. Turton was already one of my favourite authors and this book merely strengthens that.

And can we talk about that title? I was listening to a podcast earlier today (the excellent Quick Book Reviews by Philippa Hall) in which he said that in a world of one-word titles, he wanted something which jumps out and grabs the readers attention. The last murder? I’m in. At the end of the world?? I’m so in I can’t even see the way out. Genius.

I was lucky enough to get my grubby bookblogger hands on an ebook advance copy of this book to review, but I’ve had my order in for a signed special edition since last August. It should be here tomorrow, and I can’t wait to read it again.

And I hardly ever read books again, given the state of my TBR pile.

THAT’S how good it is. Go buy a copy. Buy two, one for you and one for a friend.

From the outside, Stuart Turton looks and sounds like an ordinary bloke. What goes on in his head, though, is something else entirely. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, a small group of islanders find themselves the luckiest people in the world. They are the ones who escaped the dark poisonous fog that killed the rest of the world.

This island belonged to Greece before the fog. It was home to Blackheath, a giant research centre that was sealed off after the fog got to it and only three scientists escaped.

Their elders, the three scientists, are the ones who managed to construct a barrier around the island that keeps the fog out. There has only ever been one violent incident and that person has been exiled to the mountains, banned from ever returning.

Everyone keeps to their curfew and everyone knows exactly when they will die, except the elders, whose longevity is remarkable. If there’s ever anything they want to know or do not understand, Abi, the voice in all their heads, will guide them and keep them on the right path. They grow their own food and share their produce equally. To all intents and purposes, this is the best life they can live in a post-fog world.

Then one of their number, an elder, is killed. Worse, when they wake up to discover this, they find that their memories of the last 12 hours have been completely wiped. Not only that, but this violent murder has set off the system guarding the island and now the barriers have been lowered and the fog is creeping in on the island. Emory, the most inquisitive of the islanders and the most quarrelsome, is tasked with finding the murderer in the 92 hours they have left; they will all die as the fog smothers them.

Turton is a remarkable storyteller. His vision is all encompassing and this book pulls together the archetypal locked room style mystery with dystopian elements and a dollop of science fiction threaded through with some allegories that keep you on your toes.

Emory, our protagonist, is a true investigator and she is tenacious and unhesitating in her drive to find the truth. Together with her daughter, Clara they are unrelenting in their quest.

Turton makes the challenges huge: the clock winding down, the islanders not remembering what happened the night before, Abi in their heads telling them what she wants them to know – all these things militate against Emory’s success. Then there is what she does learn and how much the islanders will be willing to hear.

The chapters are short; the narrative twisty and the revelations jaw-dropping. Turton’s murder mystery has more layers than an onion and as each one is revealed, underneath is another revelation. Each one brings us a little closer to the truth but nothing prepares you for the whole unvarnished truth.

Verdict: Turton’s world building is excellent and his narrative is punchy and exciting. And while this story works on all the murder mystery/locked room principles, it has quite a lot to say about the human condition and where we will end up if we don’t challenge what we don’t understand or believe. A thrilling must read novel.

"The Last Murder At The End Of The World" is a gripping dystopian murder mystery that delves into a futuristic world shrouded in light horror.

The story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic setting where a deadly fog has wiped out most of humanity, leaving only a small island inhabited by 122 villagers, 3 scientists, and an AI named Abi that serves as an omnipresent overseer. Each individual on the island has a voice in their head linked to Abi, who can see everything and hear their thoughts. The residents live under a strict curfew and are bound by the knowledge that they will perish on their 60th birthday.

When one of the lead scientists is gruesomely murdered, the islanders are faced with a race against time to solve the crime before the security system, their only protection against the deadly fog, is compromised. The stakes are high, as failure to find the killer within 107 hours will lead to their imminent demise. Adding to the complexity of the situation, Abi erases the memories of the islanders, leaving them unaware that a murderer lurks among them.

Turton is well known for his acclaimed work "The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle," and "The Last Murder At The End Of The World" is just as original and complex. While the story captivates with its unique premise and thought-provoking themes surrounding artificial intelligence and human nature, I found the pacing a bit slow at times. Despite this, Turton's knack for crafting complex murder mysteries shines through, delivering a captivating tale filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the final page.

"The Last Murder At The End Of The World" is a puzzling yet engrossing read that explores themes of survival, betrayal, and the unforeseen consequences of technological advancements.

It will most definitely appeal to fans of Turton's previous works and aficionados of gripping murder mysteries.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for providing an advance reader copy of the book.

Another ingenious novel from Stuart Turton. A very different location as he takes us into a dystopian future where most of the world has been wiped out.
It’s quite a slow burn as the characters and surrounds are introduced. Emory is markedly different to the other islanders, endlessly asking questions and never able to settle to one task. She is a thorn in the side of the scientists though loved by Niema, the most senior.
Once Niema is murdered, and Emory persuades the other scientists to let her investigate, the story becomes an intricate and very clever mystery. As we find out how the scientists came to be on the island and who the islanders really are, we are totally different territory. I couldn’t put this down, every time you think you understand what is happening there is another twist, the race against time adds another element as does the control that Emory appears to be under. Nothing becomes clear until the last few pages, and even then I wanted to go back and check a few things I might have missed. The Last Murder at the End of the World is another mind bending, high concept mystery from Stuart Turton and is not to be missed.

The Last Murder at the End of the World is a science fiction murder mystery - an uncommon but not unheard-of genre mashup. In fact, it fascinates me how some books are marketed as SF thrillers/mysteries, while others are clearly marketed more towards a mainstream audience. This, I think, falls into the latter category, which is fine, but may get mixed reactions from some readers as a result.

We begin in a small community on a Greek island. A disaster of apocalyptic proportions has occurred, with a deadly black fog enveloping the whole world. The island has only survived due to its proximity to a scientific base where they were able to hold back the fog just a little. There are a host of regular villagers and then three 'elders' from the before-times (who are more long-lived as they had better vaccinations and so on). Soon, one of those elders is going to be murdered and unless a villager can solve whodunnit, everyone is doomed.

It may sound simple, but this soon becomes a very complex story (that I can't go into detail because SPOILERS) with twists, turns and a whole heap of backstory.

Emory is our central character - the most curious and therefore (to the others) the most annoying villager. She asks all the right questions that no one wants to answer (which is incredibly frustrating even though it makes sense within the story). I enjoyed following her as she worked things out, and as the wider world of the book was slowly revealed to the reader.

I did feel some aspects of the SF plot (the black fog of insects) were rather 'handwavium' and the elders seemed incredibly self-focused. The end was in danger of getting convoluted rather than merely complex, but I just about kept the threads untangled in my mind. A 3.5 for me.

The writing kept me engaged right from beginning through to the end. I looked forward to picking it back up again for each reading session. It was quite an involved story with lots of little details to keep track of. It did require a fair amount of concentration, but it was interesting enough that I didn't mind putting the effort in! There were lots of twists and turns, right up until the end of the book, which kept me on my toes. The story was cleverly woven together and tied up well at the end.

The story was split into a Prologue, Epilogue and 7 parts. Each part was then split into chapters.

The parts were titled with a timescale relating to humanity's survival which added to the suspense as well as grounding the story. The Epilogue finished the story off well.

The chapters were a mix of long and short which gave an interesting pace to the book. Some bits of the story you needed to linger on as there were key bits of information that needed to be given. The mix of long and short chapters also gave the story a well controlled flow, which in turn added to the suspense.

The characters were great. There were so many secrets and experiences that gradually came to light throughout the story which made me change how I felt about the individual characters regularly. There were lots of different personalities that clashed and mixed well in equal measures. I loved how the main character was an outsider, but throughout this story her differences to everyone else are what made the story what it was.

Lastly the settings. It was interesting to see what living on the last safe place on earth was like. It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time and really made you think.

Overall an interesting story with great characters and lots of twists and turns.

I had very high hopes – but at the same time, did not know what to expect – of the new story by Stuart Turton, having absolutely loved The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I knew that this would be something completely different and unique, and it truly is! However, I just didn’t enjoy it as much. At times, I found it a bit slow, at others, confusing. But, overall, it will stay in my mind as being very unique.

The setting is in an unspecified time in the future, where humanity has become so violent and unpleasant that a fog has ended up covering the planet, killing almost all humans. Three scientists were able to commandeer a Greek island and put up a barrier that somehow holds back the fog and keeps the small village of just over 100 people living there safe. Here they have created a peaceful village life, where everyone works together according to their strengths and all respect the three scientist ‘elders’ as higher beings.

Everyone has a voice inside their head belonging to an omnipresent A.I being called Abi. Abi can see everything and hear everyone’s thoughts – which helps to avoid violence or anything unpleasant from escalating. And everyone goes to sleep every night at exactly the same time, whether they’re ready or not.. and dies on their 60th birthday.

At the start of the novel, we learn that Elder Niema is going to do something that will result in her murder. She is particularly highly revered by all the islanders – so when this happens, and everyone’s memory of the night it occurred is subsequently wiped – no can believe that she has been murdered. But her murder has triggered the lowering of the barriers to the fog. And only by solving her murder can Abi put them back up again and save everyone from being killed.

Sadly, for me, the murder investigation element became very watered down by a bit too much bickering between the characters, a very complicated back story that emerges with a lot of imaginary future technology etc that was brilliant but did become a bit of a slog to read and keep up with! That said, when we did get towards the end, it was clever and really very thought-provoking about what manmade disasters could befall humanity, the benefits and dangers of AI and manipulating people’s thoughts, etc… really very intriguing concepts to think about!

The Last Murder at the End of the World is a post-apocalyptic murder mystery. Set in the near future, humanity has ruined the planet and created a fog that kills everything it touches. An island with 122 villagers and 3 elders (scientists) are all that is left, but when one of the elders is murdered the fog begins to approach to destroy them all. They have just a matter of hours before everyone dies.

I absolutely loved this book, as I did Stuart Turton’s previous two. The murder mystery element wasn’t easy to solve, and the voice of Abi that connects them all in their heads whilst being able to hear their thoughts is a clever plot device that helps the story along. The fact that they’ve all had their memory wiped, so they’re solving the murder with you, adds an element of intrigue and suspense.

All in all, a clever twist on the murder mystery genre, with a bit of sci fi thrown into the mix. Thanks to NetGalley for a free arc in return for an honest review.

I honestly don't know how Turton manages to write banger after banger. This book is INSANE, in my humble opinion it's his best one yet. He writes humanity in all its good an its evil, and the apocalyptic setting here is inspired. It's full of tension from the first page – I absolutely devoured this book, I couldn't put it down. Turton is a genius.

Following in the footsteps of Turton's other mysteries, Last Murder... has yet another high-concept premise - that of the last band of human survivors on a remote island fending off both a poisonous plague and also a murderer in their midst. Turton is never shy of adding layers of twists and turns into his writing and it shows here with the classic whodunnit formula now sporting themes about human nature, the lingering threat of global extinction, as well as artificial intelligence all proving to be important plot points over the course of the narrative.

With a ticking timebomb (literally), Last Murder... sometimes threatens to collapse under the weight of its ambitious plot, but succeeds largely due to some root-worthy characters and an affecting finale.

You are a strange man, Mr. Turton, and I really want to have a look inside that strange brain of yours that keeps coming up with these fantastical, futuristic, thrilling Sherlock Holmesian narratives that are responsible for some of my tensest, most breath-stealing, giggle-inducing, gasping-out-loud hours spent reading your books.

If there’s anything my goodreads friends know about me, it’s my willingness to push “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” on about every person I have ever met. His debut novel turned me into a fan, believer, and firm follower of the church of Turton who, alongside Chloe Michelle Howarth, might be my only auto-buy author. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to review an early copy of his latest brain f*ck product, and it did not disappoint.

The Last Murder at the End of the World is Turton’s third impossible murder thriller and his most sci-fi one to date. As in his previous two novels, its characters are concerned with bigger questions than just finding out whodunit. Set on an island sometime in an undefined but not completely unlikely apocalyptic future in which a ravenous black fog has covered the entire world and killed every living thing in it, save for the 125 souls living on a small Greek island, Turton’s latest set of characters not only deal with the murder of one of their beloved elders and an island-wide case of wiped out memories of the night it happened, but they also have to deal with the question of what makes us human, of what is to be done in a world ravished by consumerism and natural disasters caused by man-made climate change, of how science is to be handled, by whom and for the good of what people.

If there’s one thing I admire about Turton, it’s his willingness to reinvent himself with every new book he writes. New plot, new characters, new themes to explore, a new setting with every new novel and yet each of his books is always carefully constructed, complex and unconventional, It’s HARD, and Turton makes all of it look so effortless, even when he introduces a sentient AI named Abi who interacts with the villagers as much as with the readers, able to read every villagers thought while simultaneously acting as the novel’s omniscient narrator whose thoughts sometimes escape its own narrative to insert themselves right into the story.

While unique, the narrative device proved a hindrance a couple of times since the story is told through several POVs, but occasionally, Abi would intervene and speak in the first person, and it would take me a minute to realise the “I” talking wasn’t one of the characters but the AI. Given that it only occurred a couple of times, it wasn’t much of a bother, however.

What made this novel so engaging are its short, snappy chapters that had me flying through this book, and, while it’s the shortest of Turton’s three novels, it still manages to present a thoroughly engaging mystery with a couple of “oh, shit” moments strewn in along the way. The 92h deadline given to the island’s inhabitants not only adds urgency to the story, it lends the narrative a structure of break-neck speed that does not let up. Even though I felt a bit of a dull towards the late 50% mark, Turton managed to draw me back in with a couple of structurally well-placed revelations and accusations (oh, the accusations are FLYING around in this one).

The final reveal had me good, but I can’t say that it was my favourite out of all the Turton reveals so far. In that respect, Seven Deaths still claims the top spot, with Devil coming in at a firm second. Story-wise, however, it makes a lot of sense, and while it’s not my favourite reveal + ending combo, it might be the author’s most hopeful and optimistic so far.

While I do sometimes think that his characters could use a little more inner emotional richness that is not often explored, I always know what I’m in for with Turton’s book. He puts a carefully crafted murder mystery that somehow always includes a touch of the paranormal or fantastic, together with an exploration of human depravity and kindness, above all else, and I’m more than okay with that.

The bottom of the line is: ST has a new book out, I’m buying it.

The ultimate question in this book is why murder? There seems no reason for this harmony in this well settled community set in the future on a pleasant calm, agriculturally, lush island.
So why is there this harmony amongst some of the elders? Why are there some things which the villages do not understand? Why our secrets being kept?
To say more, could accidentally lead to spoilers. This book investigates possible future life on earth. The intrigue lies in the mysteries of the community, and how the people work together, and there are signed roles, and barely question anything. Even when there are unexplained events,.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication and exchange for an honest review. I found this book, very interesting and enjoyable.

A dystopian murder puzzle is probably how I would describe this read.

Similar to The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, we have to piece together a day to be able to exit some alternative reality. This time we are way in the future rather than way in the past.
The writing's great, some of the characterizations are brilliant, and all in this is a fun journey.

I'll sign off with 5:5.

Thanks NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ), Raven Books for a Review Copy.

When a deadly fog spreads across the globe, killing everyone it touches, one small group of survivors make it to a remote island. Years later and life there is idyllic and harmonious, a real commune working together for the common good. That is, until one of the elders – a venerated scientist – is found brutally stabbed.

But it’s not just a case of tracking down the unlikely criminal in the peaceful group. If the murder is not solved within 92 hours, the technology holding the fog at bay will fail. The countdown to humanity’s extinction is on…

I do love a genre mash-up, and sci-fi murder mystery is such a great mix. The island setting makes for a perfect ‘locked room’, while the stakes couldn’t really be higher. And then slowly the sense that something isn’t quite right about it all start to creep in, and you realise that the mystery is so much bigger than one dead scientist.

This book just clicked with me from the get-go. There’s something incredibly appealing about the island’s mini-society, with days spent in peaceful farming, fishing, etc. The characters are easy to like, generally gentle souls, which just makes the violence and danger all the more acute.

Our main character, Emory, has never quite fitted in with the harmonious whole, but her curiosity and drive for answers is about to come in very handy indeed. It turns out that there are plenty of suspects with myriad reasons for wanting Niema dead, and that in itself is a shock to the locals. Niema’s backstory, plus that of the potential murderers, and more and more revelations about the island – every twist and turn kept me on the edge of my seat. Absolutely kudos for the early pacing that drops tantalising hints of something other going on, but the disclosure feeling so well built up to.

There are some concepts that might just jar, depending on the reader. It’s very convenient that the AI inside everyone’s head – there’s just one added mystery! – was commanded to wipe everyone’s memory (and that it could do that – ?!) over the time of the murder. And with such a terrible and tight deadline, I did feel there was a little too much ambling off on side-quests even as the chapters were labelled “3 hours to humanity’s extinction” – ! I could also name a half-dozen books or movies this reminded me of, parts from each – although I won’t name any here as they do start to feel like possible spoilers.

But, overall, this was a stonkingly good read imo. It kept me gripped and needing to find out what was happening in all the different layers of enigma. And like the best murder mysteries, this will also make for a good reread as I’m already keen to go back and see how the clues are laid out along the way.

So yup: big recommendation from me! Now I really must go back to the author’s earlier work, such as The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – I hear great things, and if this is anything to go by I’m in for a treat.

Turton always puts together a satisfying puzzle. You know you can solve it if you just concentrate - much like the lead character and amateur sleuth, Emory. This story is set on a Greek island after a fog has wiped out humanity. Thanks to the early work of scientists generations ago, it is protected by a barrier that keeps it at bay. The inhabitants are rebuilding a more sustainable, peaceful world. Until someone is killed for the first time in their new world, setting off a chain of events that puts everything at risk. Their island can be saved if Emory can figure out who is responsible. We explore the island, learning its history and how it operates as Emory does. Plenty of red herrings, murder mystery troupes and clues sprinkled throughout to keep a fan of the genre engaged. It's a classic whodunit in a post-apocalyptic world.